Townie and BC Hall of Famer, Phil Hazard Passes

East Providence is saddened to learn of the passing of Philip Hazard this past week. Hazard, 67, is a 1974 graduate of East Providence High School and remembered as one of the most accomplished student-athletes EPHS has seen. While in high school, he was a track and field All-American, All-State, Rhode Island State Champion and was ranked 4th place nationally. He also excelled in football. Hazard was a top academic scholar and could have attended almost any college of his choosing. While at EPHS, he was active in community services for the Boys Club, Recreation Department and other efforts to help Townies. Boston College was glad that Hazard chose BC for his undergraduate degree. Before graduating from BC, Hazard made quite a name for himself. Those who knew him understood that he always placed the spotlight on family and others first.

One of the premier track sprinters ever to represent Boston College, he earned regional and national acclaim during his record-setting varsity career. He was a four-time Greater Boston Indoor Spring Champion and three- time New England 100-yard sprint king, he set the Boston College 55-yard indoor sprint record with a blazing 6.28 clocking. On four occasions he qualified for the NCAA Championships, competing in the Indoor 55, Indoor 60, and Outdoor 200-meter events. Hazard also ran the third leg for Boston College's Sprint Medley Relay team which won the American championship in this event at the 1976 Penn Relays. For a period of time, he also played football for Boston College. Phil Hazard’s name is still on the track and field's list of BC's men's outdoor top five all-time performers in the 100-meters, 200-meters and the sprint medley relay.

Hazard explored several career paths, including education, business and law. Upon his graduation from Boston College, he ran professionally and was interested in a pro football career. He taught school for a year at St. Luke’s in Barrington, RI while also considering a law career. During a summer internship at IBM, his talents and aptitude for math produced an offer for him to work as a systems engineer. Hazard became Global Customer Satisfaction Manager, among other roles, for IBM. After a long and meritorious career at IBM, Hazard became President of Blended Learning, Academic Integration & Diversity and other endeavors. “Phil is a talented individual with unmatched interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to build successful teams. Most importantly, he is a man of character and integrity, a consummate professional, critical thinker, resourceful problem solver and energetic leader; Phil is a great man to partner with in any professional enterprise,” writes a retired company president and owner, Dan Shedd.

For his numerous, diverse achievements, Hazard was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club's Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1992, he was inducted into the East Providence High School Hall of Fame. (Phil’s son, Joel, an EP grad also excelled for BC football).

Phil is survived by his wife Julie and their six children. The Hazards have been living in Georgia. Services and arrangements to be announced.